Technical Rescue
	Breaking In Bank vault + trapped toddler + media frenzy = challenge Story & Photo by Harold Schapelhouman

When people ask me about the most challenging rescues to which I've responded, I jokingly tell them about the one that lands most people in federal prison.

I'm not sure how many rescuers have ever had to break into a bank vault ... more » EMS A–Z
New toolkit on transitioning to EMS available for volunteer, combination departments
By Jane Jerrard

If your volunteer or combination fire department is considering adding EMS service, your timing couldn't be better. That's because the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) just released a report that serves as a toolkit for transitioning to providing EMS ... more »

Fire Operations
	Team Equipment Team search requires the right tools By Fred LaFemina

In my last article, I discussed team search and its advantages for searching large areas of occupancies. This month's article will discuss some of the equipment needed to allow you to conduct team searches effectively ... more »

Preparation Begins At Home
"Leave Early or Stay & Defend" is just one option
By Bob Roper
Photo Craig Durling
From the February 2009 issue of FireRescue magazine
Editor's note: Winds blowing faster than 60 mph and temperatures as high as 117 degrees F created ripe conditions for arson-set fires that tore across southern Australian state of Victoria. Nearly 200 people were killed and entire towns were destroyed. Most of those killed were attempting to escape the 60-mile-long fire front.

In this article, from the February 2009 issue of FireRescue magazine, Chief Bob Roper describes the IAFC's endorsement of the Australian "Leave Early or Stay and Defend" (LEOSAD) philosophy ... more »